Aid to the Church in Need: Daughters of the Resurrection remember former superior Sr Albertine

Daughters of the Resurrection remember former superior Sr Albertine

Posted by Project description on 22/4/2009, 3:08 pm
Board Administrator

Bearing the truth of the Resurrection

Now she rests in peace, the peace of God. All her life, Sister Albertine spread this peace to others, especially among the young novices and especially here in war-torn Kivu, in eastern Congo. The former Superior of the Daughters of the Resurrection died in late September 2008. All her life she had battled suffering and sickness, both in others and in herself. Yet “we never heard her complain” says her successor, Mother Petronella Nkaya.

Sister Albertine Cinama Cinogerwa M’Bashige (1943 – 2008)

Sister Albertine was one of the Sisters from the early days. It was in November 1966 that Father Jan Engelen, Mother Hadewych and Father Werenfried founded the congregation of the Daughters of the Resurrection in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Young African women and girls could now pray and work in the midst of their own people. Years later, Father Werenfried wrote of them that they bear within them the truth of the Resurrection “just as a woman bears new life and passes it on to the people from whom she herself has sprung”. Nine months later, in September 1967, the young Albertine M’Bashige knocked at the door. Aged 24, she became a novice and three years later made her first solemn profession. “She had a special gift for teaching young people”, writes Mother Petronella. And indeed, the young were always her special care – whether in training the novices, or establishing new novitiates... “Mama Muhya” was her affectionate nickname. Like the other Sisters, she used to call Father Werenfried “Papa Founder”, and she learnt from him how to tackle problems, to serve selflessly and, even in the midst of great trials, to preserve that inner joy of the children of God. And even when the congregation spread, under her leadership, to Rwanda, Cameroon and as far as Brazil, with as many as 200 Sisters now, she continued to remain in the war zone, which is now once again undergoing severe trials.

(“Papa Founder” and his “Daughters”: the joy of the Resurrection – loud, visible and infectious.)

In Busasamana, where six of the Daughters died as martyrs, they still chose to return to their convent to live and serve. At the time the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) helped them with a simple washroom, a chicken coop, a small storehouse and electricity supply cables. Now they need ACN's help again, especially for formation. For the Daughters this is more than simply material aid. Father Werenfried put it like this: “The Institute of the Daughters of the Resurrection is sustained by the love of innumerable faithful benefactors. In God they draw the strength to start over, time and time again”.

To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org